All but one of the unclued lights can be preceded by DOCTOR (or in one case DOC). The title also explains why DOC’s name (as the compiler) was omitted from the heading of the puzzle. Solvers were required to highlight CAPE at 38 Down which yields ‘Cape Doctor’ where Doctor follows rather than precedes the unclued light. First prize Storm Hutchinson, Dulas, Anglesey Runners-up Philip Whiteland, Doveridge, Derbyshire; J.
The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M.
The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer among other reference books. Elsewhere, ignore one grave accent.
The unclued lights Across are CATS and the unclued lights Down are DOGS.
The unclued Across lights (two of two words) are of a kind, as are the unclued Down ones, all verifiable in Brewer 19th edition.
The unclued Across lights are ANAGRAMS of French numbers (22: trente, 24: soixante, 26: sept, 29: onze, 43: trois) and the Down lights of German numbers (3: vier, 4: hundert, 10: sechs, 40: acht, 41: drei). First prize G. Jones, London SW1 Runners-up Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; S.J.J.
The unclued Across lights are of one linguistic kind and the unclued Down lights are of another, all of which solvers must figure out. Across 1 Busy person squeezing scab on carpet (6) 7 Cilla’s out gathering what Novello suggested (6) 12 Ends of the line abolished at privatisation? (9) 13 Come down from window (5) 15 Club official, more confident following adjustment of rate (9) 16 Persistent seabird seen during mid-week (6) 20 Threatening youths broadcast ‘Which of you gets the chop?
The unclued lights can be preceded by GREEN which had to be shaded in green, as indicated in the solution grid.
The unclued lights (one of two words) can be preceded by the same word which is hidden in the completed grid. Solvers must highlight this word appropriately. All resulting phrases are verifiable in Brewer. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 1 Ought to be quiet when dreadfully loud (6) 7 Elysian areas of knowledge? (6) 12 Board for one in mental hospital? (9) 15 Governor’s gun brought back by a hill (9) 16 War god with worker bully (6) 20 Porridge making good man throw up (7) 21 Could be guaranteed this is treeless country?
The unclued lights reveal ELEVEN (five English and six Scottish) league football teams (3/38, 4/1D, 10, 14, 18, 18/28, 19, 26, 27/1D, 28, 36 {City}). 1 Down has to become ROVERS. First prize Margaret Shiels, Edinburgh Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N.
The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or paired, are of a kind, with 1 Down as a plural. Two of these unclued lights do double duty to reach the number indicated in the title. Ignore one apostrophe and, elsewhere, an acute accent. Chambers does not confirm 25A. Across 1 What a professional soldier might expect to earn?
FIRST, the ‘starter’ solution at 10 Down, can be linked with the other unclued lights, with it also appearing twice in ‘First things first’. First prize P.E. Berridge, Gosberton, Lincolnshire Runners-up John C. Edwards, Ightham, Kent; Professor Colin Ratledge, Beverley, E.
One ‘unclued’ light, as the title suggests, can be paired (on one occasion twice) with each of the other unclued lights, (one of two words), all verifiable in Brewer. Alphabetical order takes priority in the unclued solution at 36A.
The unclued lights can be preceded by JACK. First prize Margaret Lusk, Preston, Lancs Runners-up P.D.H.
The unclued lights (one of two words, and one of three) when preceded by the same word (which has to be discovered) reveal words (in one case, a non-word which is almost a foot) or phrases all of which are listed in Brewer, with some also listed in Chambers. Ignore all hyphens. Across 7 Losing core of drive, rant and go off line (6) 11 Not starting continental deer, say, or veal dish (10) 13 Sudden increases of bitterns’ calls (5) 14 Employing you, I hear, even in espionage (5) 15 Sign away big business arrangement — there are the overheads!
The unclued lights are some of the Wombles of Wimbledon COMMON, paired at 25/21, 31/16 and 35/10. First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; C.H.
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as three pairs, are of a kind. Across 9 Aussie’s error with fine paintbrush. Correct! (10, hyphened) 11 Ten-nil reverse.
The unclued lights are DOGS from the classics, legend or of noted people.
The unclued lights, one of two words, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 1 After the outskirts of Barnsley, overtake on road round town (6) 7 Series for bikers? (6) 13 Regularly burn options and release (5) 14 Like a Peruvian, having completed filming?
The unclued lights (1A, 1D, 6A/33, 13, 18, 32 and 38/24) are seven of the ‘Twelve Curious CUSTOMS Worth Reviving’, as listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize J. Bielawski, Liverpool Runners-up Neil Mendoza, London W11; K.J.